Tourist Information Centre - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 1 Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Name | Location | Cost of double room | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hostelling International West End | Example 10 minutes from downtown by Answer bus | $50 per night but only $ 1 for members | Membership card offers discount on entry to 2
Internet access costs $3 per 3 |
| 4 Hostel | Near beach. Two-minute walk to 5 | $62. Meals extra but only available in 6 | Was built as a hotel in 7
Can hire 8 from hostel |
| Backpackers Hostel | In 9 district | $45 plus $5 for breakfast | A 10 on every floor for guests to use |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 41 | But if they become members of Hostelling International, the price comes down to $41 a night | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that if the girls choose to become members of the organization, the cost of the room changes from $50 to $41 for one night. Answer Explanation: The answer is 41. This is the amount of money in dollars that members pay for a room each night. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 41 because the man says the normal cost for a double room is $50. However, if the girls join the group as 'members', he says the price 'comes down' (becomes cheaper) to $41 per night. |
| Q2 | museums | If they become members, will they get cheaper entrance tickets to museums? Man: Oh, yes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking whether being a member会让 (makes) tickets for museums cheaper, and the man answering 'yes', confirming the discount. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'museums', which is a type of building where you can see historical, artistic, or scientific objects. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the conversation between the woman and the man about the 'Hostelling International' membership benefits. The woman specifically asks if members receive cheaper entrance tickets for 'museums', and the man confirms this by saying 'Oh, yes'. This indicates that having a membership card provides a discount for entry into these places. |
| Q3 | hour | It's $1 for 15 minutes and $3 for an hour | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the cost for using the internet. It says that the price is three dollars for one hour of use. Answer Explanation: The answer 'hour' means that guests pay $3 to use the internet for sixty minutes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'hour' because the man in the recording states the prices for using the internet at the HI West End hostel. He mentions that 15 minutes costs $1, while one hour costs $3. The table asks for the unit of time that corresponds to the $3 price, so 'hour' is the correct word to fill in the blank. |
| Q4 | Elliscoat | Man: There's Elliscoat Hostel. Woman: Mm, how do you spell that? Man: E-L-L-I-S-C-O-A-T | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man giving the name of the hostel and then spelling it out as 'E-L-L-I-S-C-O-A-T' after the woman asks him how it is spelled. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'Elliscoat', which is the specific name given to the second hostel mentioned in the conversation. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the woman asks for a quieter place to stay. The man suggests a second hostel, and because the name might be unfamiliar, he spells it out letter by letter (E-L-L-I-S-C-O-A-T) to ensure it is recorded accurately. |
| Q5 | ferry | And if they want to go to Dragon Island it only takes a couple of minutes to walk down to the ferry | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the woman says it only takes a few minutes to walk to the boat (the ferry) if they want to visit a place called Dragon Island. Answer Explanation: The answer is a ferry, which is a big boat that carries people across a short distance over water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ferry' because the woman specifically mentions that if the guests want to visit Dragon Island, it is a very short walk to reach the boat. In the table, the location of Elliscoat Hostel is described as being a 'Two-minute walk to' something, which matches the 'couple of minutes to walk down to' mentioned in the conversation. The 'something' being walked to is the ferry. |
| Q6 | summer | It is possible to buy meals in the hostel at a reasonable price but because it isn't very busy in the winter, they only cook in summer | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the hostel only provides cooked meals during the summer season because fewer people stay there during the winter. Answer Explanation: The answer 'summer' refers to the specific season during which meals are prepared and available for guests at the Elliscoat Hostel. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is summer because the man explains that although guests can buy meals at the hostel, this service is only offered during the summer months. He mentions that the hostel is not busy enough in the winter to provide cooking services. |
| Q7 | 1887 | There's been a hotel there since 1887 when it was first built | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the building was first built and started being used as a hotel in the year 1887. Answer Explanation: The answer is the year 1887. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1887 because the man mentions that the building has functioned as a hotel since it was first constructed in that specific year. Although it became a hostel in 1985, the question asks when it was built as a hotel. |
| Q8 | scooters / scooter | The hostel actually has scooters for hire at a very good price. So they could do that. Er, it would be quicker than cycling or walking to the centre | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the hostel has small vehicles (scooters) available for guests to rent at a cheap price so they can travel faster. Answer Explanation: The answer 'scooter(s)' refers to small motor vehicles with two wheels that the hostel lets guests pay to use for a short time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'scooter(s)' because the man explains that the hostel offers these vehicles for 'hire', which means guests can pay to use them. He says using them is faster than walking or riding a bicycle. Keywords to note are 'hire' (to rent or pay for temporary use) and 'scooters' (the vehicles available). |
| Q9 | entertainment | It's in a side street in the entertainment district | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the hostel is located on a small street within the area of the city known for fun and activities. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'entertainment', which describes the specific area or neighborhood where the Backpackers Hostel is located. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'entertainment' because the man mentions this specific word when describing where the Backpackers Hostel is found. He explains that being in the 'entertainment district' is convenient because everything the girls want is close by. In this context, a 'district' is a specific area of a city. |
| Q10 | kitchen | There's no café but on each floor in this hostel there's a kitchen for residents to cook in | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while the hostel does not have a cafe, it has a kitchen on every level (floor) of the building for the guests to use for cooking. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'kitchen', which is a special room where people can cook and prepare food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'kitchen' because the man explains that the Backpackers Hostel does not have a cafe for buying meals. Instead, he mentions that every floor of the building provides a kitchen so that the people staying there (residents) can make their own food. The phrase 'on each floor' in the transcript directly matches the phrase 'on every floor' in the table notes. |
Transcript
You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work. All the recordings will be played once only. The test is in four sections. At the end of the test you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Now turn to section 1.
Section 1. You will hear a woman talking to a man who works in a tourist information office. First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
Man: Good morning. Can I help you?
Woman: I hope so! I have a friend in Spain and her two daughters are coming to the city to study for a month. So I thought the Tourist Information Centre was the best place to ask about hostels. Can you recommend any?
Man: Of course. Ah, I usually suggest one of the Hostelling International places. HI West End is a big hostel in a residential area, but it's only ten minutes from downtown (Example) if you take a bus. It's really popular.
The journey time is by bus, so 'bus' has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.
[repeat]
Woman: OK. Sounds good! I need to know how much it costs. The girls want a double room to themselves. They don't want to share with other people.
Man: That makes it more expensive. The price is under $30 for a bed in a dormitory but they'll be paying $50 a night. But if they become members of Hostelling International, the price comes down to $41 a night. Membership costs $35.
Woman: Right.
Man: And membership offers them benefits too on all kinds of activities.
Woman: Ah, what kind of things?
Man: Oh, er, skydiving and white-water rafting. Things like that.
Woman: Mm, I don't think they're interested in that kind of thing. If they become members, will they get cheaper entrance tickets to museums?
Man: Oh, yes and also discounts on bicycle and car hire.
Woman: OK. It's probably worth it. Is the hostel very noisy? They're coming here to do some studying.
Man: Ah, I think it is quite noisy as it's a really big hostel. And if they want to use the Internet this hostel still makes a charge unfortunately. It's $1 for 15 minutes and $3 for an hour.
Woman: Mm ... it might not be ideal for them. What else can you recommend? Is there anything in a quiet area?
Man: There's Elliscoat Hostel.
Woman: Mm, how do you spell that?
Man: E-L-L-I-S-C-O-A-T.
Woman: I've never heard that name before. And where is that?
Man: It's on the beach looking over the bay. Here, look on the map. It's quiet but not far from Dragon Island - there's plenty going on there in the evening.
Woman: Oh, that's a nice area. And if they want to go to Dragon Island it only takes a couple of minutes to walk down to the ferry. So how much is a room there?
Man: It's in such a nice spot that the rooms are a bit more expensive. They're $62.
Woman: Does that include any meals?
Man: Unfortunately not. It is possible to buy meals in the hostel at a reasonable price but because it isn't very busy in the winter, they only cook in summer.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.
Woman: Oh, I think I know the place you mean. It's an old building, isn't it?
Man: Yes, it's well known as it's one of the oldest in the city. There's been a hotel there since 1887 when it was first built. It was turned into a hostel in 1985 and they've invested a lot of money restoring it inside.
Woman: Mm, they'd like that but I'm just looking on the map at where their college is - it's right in the centre. It is a bit far for them from there.
Man: The hostel actually has scooters for hire at a very good price. So they could do that. Er, it would be quicker than cycling or walking to the centre.
Woman: Mm, it is a bit expensive ... But it sounds like the best one so far unless there's something a bit cheaper?
Man: OK. Er, well, what about the Backpackers Hostel? That's not so expensive. It's in a side street in the entertainment district. They wouldn't need to go far to find everything they want - they could walk everywhere. And it's very reasonable. Only $45 and another $5 if they want to have breakfast.
Woman: Mm, but what about other meals?
Man: There's no café but on each floor in this hostel there's a kitchen for residents to cook in. I'm not sure how well equipped they are but it should be fine for basic meals.
Woman: Well, that's really very helpful. I'll pass all this information on now.
Man: Do ask your friends to ring me if they need to know anything else.
Woman: I will. Thank you.
That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.